Mammal · GBIF taxon 2436643
Central American Spider Monkey
Ateles geoffroyiAlso known as Geoffroy's Spider Monkey, Black-handed Spider Monkey
High in the tropical forest canopy, Central American spider monkeys swing effortlessly through trees using their long, muscular prehensile tail as a fifth limb. Living in flexible fission-fusion social groups, individuals split into small foraging bands by day and gather in larger troops to sleep. Females lead daily travel routes across home ranges to locate seasonal fruiting trees.
FrugivoreTree DwellerSocial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Ripe Figs
- Palms
- Young Leaves
Predators
- Harpy Eagle
- Jaguar
- Puma
ThreatsDeforestation, habitat fragmentation, hunting, pet trade
HabitatsTropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves
Life span25 to 30 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAtelidae
- SpeciesAteles geoffroyi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Can bite or scratch if cornered or handled; observe quietly from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Cornered wild primates can inflict deep bites and scratches that break skin and risk bacterial infection.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by long slender limbs, dark hands, and an agile prehensile tail with a hairless tip.
- What to do
- Never approach, feed, or attempt to touch wild individuals; view from established forest trails.
- What to notice
- Identified by dark hands, thin body, and energetic swinging through high tree branches.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a respectful distance and avoid lingering directly under active feeding groups.
Responsible observation
- Keep Your Distance: Use binoculars to observe canopy activity without disrupting group movement.
- Avoid Feeding: Never offer food, which alters foraging habits and increases disease risk.
- Listen for Calls: Watch for branch-shaking and loud bark-like calls that signal presence.
Sympatric Primate (c) Cephas, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Sympatric Primate "Agitated white-faced capuchin, Santa Rosa, Bosque seco (dry forest), Guanacaste, Costa Rica" by thejaan is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Predator (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
Close Relative
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